The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-16
THE OLD KICKER.
rcck,s Sun.


 down in the street car Monday morn- ing, with his arm in sling, and a strip of court plaster from his nose, across his check, and around behind his ear.
 That was horse, a a1trotter," said the kicker. as he smiled until tho strip of court plaster called the smile of. "That horse is going to be world boter. He trotted so fast yesterday that thought he was running away, and pulled him into the fence. and got hurt. X man who saw him go said he was trotting as square as n horse ever trotted, and that was Il fool to run him in tho tence." "But what were all tho things you had on his legs? l couldn't hardly sec the color of the horse for straps and things you had tied on him." said the drummer.
 Well, that Is what bothcrs me-" said the kicker "You scc, when got the horse, q month ago, I didn't have thing in the barn but harness, and a buggy, but every time talked with any horse man he suggested that use some kind of q boot, or band age, or something, or l would ruin the horse If ever let him trot, and every harness shop visited they would show me new fanglcd things to put on horses legs, for ono thing and another, and bought everything that any body told me to, and the result is my barn Is full of them. Yesterday put them all on the horse, and went out on the road, and must say that the horse created sensation. had interfering straps on every ankle, and quarter boots, and toe weights, and knee boots, and red flannel bandagcs from the ankle to the knee on every leg and suspenders to hold the fore legs and give him knee action, and Il strap over his trump hitched to the shafts, SO he couldn't kick, and hand pieces on the lines. You noticed that my wife was not with me. She was going to ride with me, but when she came out and saw the horse with all the things on, she said she would not desecratc the Sabbath by riding after such harness shop advertisement. Well, didn't blame her, but l had picnic until run In the fence. passed everything. First l tackled buss load of beer jerkcrs, going out for drunk, and passed the buss as though it was standing still. Then paralyzcd hack load of tourists who were taking in the sights, and more than forty buggy loads, and every body laughed to see me fairly fly. Then Il gambler came along with pacer, and it was nip aRd tuck for half mile, but l beat him, and then 1t occurred to me that my horse was running away. and pulled him into the fence and bushes Well, you never saw such n crash. went clear over the horse, scraping my stomach on the saddle and hook where the check rein is fastened. and tore off every button on my clothes. and landed across the board fence, my head ranging on one side and my feet on the other. When the crowd 1 hai passed came along tlcy thought was dead, and they piekbd mc off the fence and laid uc out in inc road. The beer jerkers in the buss poured beer in my face, and l came fo, and horse doctor set my shoulder. Afier got so l conld breathe. everVbohy laughed. and then they began to pas atteniion Co the liorae, browsing on the bushes. Do you know. that hGr-s. acted as though running in the fence was part of ihe busjtess? K ind ho oRa1s ef.fEIanI lac .4 weights. and interfering straps aih baDdaRes, and put them in the buggy, and they flied the box of the buggy full. Ii cost Tne seven dollars to get myself and the wreck home. besides l will have to pay the veterinary sur geoD for setting my shoulder"
 "That's the queerest case 1 ever heard of," said the drummer, turning to the floor walker, who aat next to him.
 "What case?" asked the floor walker.
 "Why, this old man. Ever since he got on the ear his lips have been moving, and his face looks as though he was talking, but not sound has escaped his lips. Not a word has he uttered that could be understood. Maybe he has lost his voice. If %, 1t Is great loss. say, old gentienan,1 turning to the old kicker 'did you think you were talking all this time? l addressed you when you came in, in regard to the weather, and for quite 6 while you have seemed to be saying something, but Bore of us have teen able to make out word. You thought you were talking, didn't you?s
 "Naw," said the old kicker, who be- gan tp tumble to the game the pass eBgers were making of him. "I nave not said anything since l got in the